3rd &4th December

3rd
Today pops and I went to BC in the morning, then once we'd picked LJ from school we walked down into town for the first Christmas Cracker. We browsed the stalls and bought a cake for LJ & me as pops was asleep. I managed to buy a sneaky Christmas present for pops without LJ seeing. We tried to see father Christmas, but he wasn't in his grotto yet and the queues would have been ridiculous later so we wandered down to green bank when there was a light up Father Christmas outside.

We went to the library where we read some stories (and pops emptied nearly a whole shelf of DVDs!!) before wandering home via the mulled cider stand.
It was a lovely afternoon, but if they run it again next year we will definitely drive down, poor LJ barely had the energy to see what was happening.

4th
AP & UK came to visit. We spent a long time chatting, playing games and eating. Lovely.

I am a rule follower!

At school we were talking about whether people were rule followers or rule breakers. I was pondering this when my best friend pointed out that not only was I a rule follower, but "to the letter" that it dawned on me, I really am. In everything I do. With my children and previously at work, I try to  do everything by the book. I go to school events, because the school like parents to go. Even in my crafting, I don't do distressed, I work in clean lines, with neat inking! In everything I do I am following the rules.

Maybe its why I like JYC, there are no rules as such, but given there are prompts, I don't feel I am completely out on a limb with no rules to follow.

I blogged yesterday, and that may be my first entry, but I would like to do a manifesto. Maybe I will print out the 2010 one if I can find it, I remember liking that one.

In the shower this morning I thought of a page I would like to do, but really it has to be done for the first December, but I have yesterdays journalling and I would like to do a manifesto, but ho hum, what does it matter if my journal has two 1st Decembers. I will never finish my album if I put myself under pressure that's not even there. There are no rules, and just for once that is just fine by me!

New traditions
LJ came down this morning to find our Christmas tree up. He told his friend that Father Christmas had put it up!!
Last week G asked what I wanted for Christmas, I jotted some things down and popped in an envelope which I'd addressed to Father Christmas.  Yesterday afternoon LJ spotted the envelope had been opened. Quick as a flash I replied Father Christmas must have opened it when he put the tree up.  Cue some sadness that LJ hadn't written his letter yet, he went into the dining room and got to work. I am immensely proud of him and will treasure his letter always (in a safe hiding place! )
December 2015's new tradition, to have a letter ready on 1st December for Father Christmas to take once he's put up our tree.

1st December 2015

Back in December 2010, when pregnant with My boy I decided to start JYC, record our last Christmas, just us. I was tired, I was pregnant, I just didn't keep up.
The following year we had a baby  and I thought I'd journal it, I didn't.  2012 was our best documented year. Christmas 2013 I was pregnant again and either ill or tired, it went by in a haze, 2014, again we had a (newish) baby.

This year I will journal our Christmas, I will add pictures, I will record.


1st December

I am always so excited for 1st December. We want to start traditions, we want to build memories, of special times as a family. This morning I was filled with joy at the excitement on LJs face. I hope we spend many more mornings sitting around the breakfast table together, eating advent chocolate and reading all about the birth of Jesus.